Frequently Asked Questions
Does it work with BuddyBoss Platform?
Section titled “Does it work with BuddyBoss Platform?”Yes. The plugin detects whether BuddyPress or BuddyBoss Platform is active and adjusts automatically. It also uses BuddyBoss’s activity-follow feature for follow suggestions when it is available.
What does the plugin require to run?
Section titled “What does the plugin require to run?”BuddyPress (or BuddyBoss Platform) with the Extended Profiles (xProfile) component active. Activation is blocked if either is missing. WordPress 6.6+ and PHP 8.0+ are required. See Requirements.
Do I need the Friends or Follow components?
Section titled “Do I need the Friends or Follow components?”They are optional and each unlocks part of the plugin:
- The Friends component is needed to send friend requests from suggestion cards and to show mutual friends.
- A follow provider (the BuddyPress Follow plugin or BuddyBoss activity follow) is needed for follow suggestions and follow buttons.
Without a follow provider, the plugin shows friend suggestions only and hides follow UI.
Is the matching AI powered?
Section titled “Is the matching AI powered?”No. Suggestions are calculated from the profile fields you configure, plus mutual friends and shared (common-interest) field values. There is no machine-learning model.
Why do members with nothing in common still show a compatibility percentage?
Section titled “Why do members with nothing in common still show a compatibility percentage?”Because of the Universal Match Score, a baseline added to every pair before field matching. It defaults to 20%. Set it to 0 if you want members with no overlap to score 0. See General - Profile Matching.
Where do I choose which profile fields drive suggestions?
Section titled “Where do I choose which profile fields drive suggestions?”At WB Plugins > BP Friend & Follow > General, in the Profile Match Settings section. Add each field, set its weight, and optionally mark it Required.
Can I limit how many members appear?
Section titled “Can I limit how many members appear?”Yes. Set it per widget, per shortcode with the limit attribute, per block with the Limit control, and site-wide through the UX suggestion settings.
Does the plugin create custom database tables?
Section titled “Does the plugin create custom database tables?”No. Settings live in WordPress options and per-member data (dismissed lists, email frequency) lives in user meta. Two composite indexes are added to the existing xProfile tables at activation to speed up large communities, and they are removed on uninstall.
Does deactivating the plugin delete my data?
Section titled “Does deactivating the plugin delete my data?”No. Deactivation leaves settings and email templates in place. To remove everything, use Clear All Data on the Advanced tab before deleting the plugin.
Is there a REST API or WP-CLI command?
Section titled “Is there a REST API or WP-CLI command?”No. The plugin has no REST endpoints and no WP-CLI commands. Its interactive features (dismiss, refresh, follow, add friend) run over admin-ajax.
Can members turn off suggestion emails?
Section titled “Can members turn off suggestion emails?”Yes, when you allow it. Each member can set their frequency to Instant, Daily, Weekly, or Never on their BuddyPress notification settings page. See Member Email Preferences.
Does it support Multisite?
Section titled “Does it support Multisite?”Yes. Profile-field configuration is per-site, so each site in the network keeps its own settings, and each must have BuddyPress and the xProfile component active.
Which themes are supported?
Section titled “Which themes are supported?”BuddyX, BuddyX Pro, and Reign are the officially supported themes, and the plugin works with most BuddyPress-compatible themes.